In the world of secondhand treasure hunting, it's funny how things go in cycles. You can spend years looking for a certain type of thing, and then in a short span of time you will find that style of item everywhere-- and all for amazing prices.

Recent readers of The Thrift Shop Romantic will probably notice I've been in that cycle of luck with portrait plates and bowls lately. And my thrifting buddy Scoobie has been having a similar sort of good fortune with the Western-themed goodies she collects.

This elaborate unmarked bowl was a find from the Riverfront Antique Mall in New Philadelphia, Ohio...

With its extensive detail and deep aqua color, it was a quick decision for me to bring it home. You can see a close-up on the French lady transfer portrait here.

I also found this little Austrian portrait bowl at the same antique mall. It was in a booth that had mostly hardware and lamp parts, and it seemed real luck to me I stumbled upon it. And at $8, it was very affordable.Lastly, at the Red, White and Blue thrift store in Bellevue, I got this cheerful little pottery teapot planter...(No, it's not a real teapot. You'd be boiling up dirt residue from its insides, if you used it that way!). What I liked about it was how much personality it seemed to have. There's something vaguely like Disney animation about it to me... like if it took off dancing to a musical number you wouldn't really be that surprised.

Anyway, that puts a lid on this Treasure Box Wednesday. I hope to get back into doing some humorous recipe and general collectibles posts soon, but I've been spending some time trying to get an agent for the novel I wrote, so my energies are temporarily elsewhere.

The skies may have been black and the winds, they did bluster to the point they broke the door at the North Versailles Goodwill, but the treasure hunting this last Saturday... it was a blast!

I journeyed down Route 30 with my buddy Scoobie and her brother, and as a collective we came away with so many goodies we had to use the back seat to help hold them all. I realize looking at my photos, I didn't even take photos of all my finds. So I will save those for a future Treasure Box.

My favorite finds of the day were two early 1900s portrait vases which drew me in instantly. This one is from Austria...

The rich color and a great price meant I could not leave it there in the cabinet of the Fleatique II in Ligonier, PA. It seems very happy with the other pieces I've accumulated from the same time period.

Then at the L&L Fleatique in Adamsburg, I snagged this pink portrait beauty...

This is an American Whiteware piece from the Owen Pottery Company of Minerva, Ohio. It's now sitting happily displayed on top of my china cabinet along with some pastel Hull pieces.

You can see a better closeup of the lady on it here...

At the Fleatique in Ligonier I also got four of these nice blue (they don't look so blue here, but are) carnival glass styled plates...I imagine they're from the 60s or early 70s, but I usually see carnival dinnerware in marigold or amber instead of blue. So this was a nice change, and the price was right, too.

I got this little aqua sandcastle at a thrift store-- which one, I don't recall anymore as we went so many different places it started to be a blur!And just because I forgot to include it a week or so ago, I'd picked up this nice tole 1940s-styled waste basket at an antique store in Bellevue, PA. I think I'll use it for my upstairs office.So that pretty much bins this Treasure Box Wednesday. Hope you're able to turn trash into treasure where ever this week takes you.

This past week or so has been a happy time... for my curio cabinet. See, it has received the bulk of my thrifted treasures lately, in some scores that have brought both shine and good cheer.

One of my favorite items from last Saturday was this remarkable little teacup from the Monroeville Goodwill Thrift Store...It's a hand-painted porcelain piece which isn't old, but certainly harkens back to Art Nouveau pieces. It was new with a tag, and the designer is Kathy Ireland. I knew Kathy did home furnishings-- English-inspired rugs and sofas-- but I didn't know she'd included porcelain in her line.

Here's a closeup on the saucer. I'm really happy with the quality and detail...Another fave find was this hand-painted vintage lamp from the Salvation Army thrift store...I know regular readers will be wondering why on earth I, of all people, need another lamp. The answer to that is, 1.) Lamp addition does not yet have a 12-step program. And 2.) I'm actually downsizing some lamps, and have given a few away to my friend Scoobie's home, so I will no longer be tripping over the, um, lights fantastic.

Here you can see a closer view on those lovely handpainted roses.Yum!

What I also found to be "yum," was this little lusterware creamer with cherubs on it which I got for $0.99 at the Salvation Army Superstore...This shiny type of porcelain always makes me happy because it reflects light in what would otherwise be a rather dark house.

And lastly, I netted myself two sparkly souvenir sandcastles, treating my Inner Child to some playful magic...I wasn't allowed to buy these as souvenirs growing up-- my mother thought it was a waste of money-- so as an adult, I'm really defiantly enjoying picking them up for pennies now. I think they work pretty well with the lusterware and Victoriana...The Victorians, after all, were all for decorating with interesting souvenir items.

So, that about washes away the contents of this Treasure Box. I hope you all are enjoying a week of the things that lift your spirits.

TSR's Spiffy Followers

About Your Hostess

I've known the power of a good thrift store ever since I was a kid. It's that wonderful feeling of possibility... Of being able to find all the things you ever were looking for-- and a few you never even knew existed... And for not a lot of money. Fans of the thrift-- I'd love to hear from you!